Graphical 3D Curve Rendering Data Visualization Tools and Primitives for Tabular Data and Spreadsheets
Graphical tools and primitives are provided for visualization of graphical curve rendered in 3 D from tabular data such as in a spreadsheet. The invention can be used for simple business analysis as well as advanced engineering and science. Visualizations of a one-dimensional curve are rendered from provided data according to position, orientation, and viewpoint, some or all of which can be controlled by a user interface. The visualization can be displayed together with an electronic spreadsheet or other tabular data representation. The curve can be suspended over a region of the displayed tabular data or otherwise displayed. The visually rendered curve can comprise symbols or varying colors, thicknesses parameterized textures, or parameterized glyphs representing data, interactively controlled filtered data, or stochastically processed data. The curve can be suspended over a region of displayed tabular data. A visual height tool and visual links to tabular data items can be included.
1 . A method for visualizing tabular data of an electronic spreadsheet, the method comprising:
obtaining data values from tabular data, the tabular data comprising plurality of data values organized as an array;
rendering a visualization of a one-dimensional curve, the visualization computed from the data values obtained from tabular data, the rendering further computed from position data, orientation data, and viewpoint data, the visualization rendering a view of the curve in a 3-dimensional space in a visual display area of a computer screen;
wherein the visualization is displayed together with a display of the tabular data of the electronic spreadsheet, and
wherein the visualization of the rendered curve further comprises a varying color, the color representing a value responsive to the tabular data.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position data is received from a user interface.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the orientation data is received from a user interface.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the viewpoint data is received from a user interface.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rendered visualization is supplemented with at least one symbol rendered adjacent to the curve, the symbol representing a value responsive to the tabular data.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rendered visualization is supplemented with at least one parameterized glyph rendered adjacent to the curve, the parameterized glyph representing a value responsive to the tabular data.
7 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprises rendering a visual height measuring tool in the visualization.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one-dimensional curve represents filtered versions of the tabular data.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization is rendered with numerical values displayed adjacently at specific points on the curve, the displayed numerical values representing an additional dimension of data.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one-dimensional curve represents statistically processed of the tabular data.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visualization additionally comprises visual links to tabular data items within a geometric rendering of tabular data.
12 . A method for visualizing tabular data of an electronic spreadsheet, the method comprising:
obtaining data values from tabular data, the tabular data comprising plurality of data values organized as an array;
rendering a visualization of a one-dimensional curve, the visualization computed from the data values obtained from tabular data, the rendering further computed from position data, orientation data, and viewpoint data, the visualization rendering a view of the curve in a 3-dimensional space in a visual display area of a computer screen;
wherein the visualization is displayed together with a display of the tabular data of the electronic spreadsheet, and
wherein the visualization of the rendered curve further comprises a varying thickness, the thickness representing a value responsive to the tabular data.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the position data is received from a user interface.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the orientation data is received from a user interface.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the viewpoint data is received from a user interface.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the rendered visualization is supplemented with at least one symbol rendered adjacent to the curve, the symbol representing a value responsive to the tabular data.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the rendered visualization is]supplemented with at least one parameterized glyph rendered adjacent to the curve, the parameterized glyph representing a value responsive to the tabular data.
18 . The method of claim 12 , the method further comprises rendering a visual height measuring tool in the visualization.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one-dimensional curve represents filtered versions of the tabular data.
20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the visualization is rendered with numerical values displayed adjacently at specific points on the curve, the displayed numerical values representing an additional dimension of data.
21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one-dimensional curve represents statistically processed of the tabular data.
22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the visualization additionally comprises visual links to tabular data items within a geometric rendering of tabular data.